The piano and then the dog ( a long story..sad but with a happy ending)

Because the landlord didn't pay the bank and they reposessed my house we had to move. Sally Mae gave me a relocation check so we made the hidious ordeal on the coldest part of this winter.

Hyia would no longer be able to take her piano lesson with her Great Grandmother every day. I have a keyboard but it is sadly lacking in the number of keys and truly it is just not the same. I had just enough left over that Mom suggested I get a piano. I owe her so much for the medical she is paying I would not have considered this without her blessing.

I figured I would begin looking on Craig's list. Yesterday Hyia and I saw a piano store here and stopped to inquire. They redirected me to the owner of Meyers Music about a hundred dollar piano. SHe had told me it played pretty darn remarkable so I decided i best not let too much dust settle, called MOm and asked her if she wanted to go with me the next day. She agreed.

IT was in Blue Springs a bit of a drive from here on I 70 which is not my favorite highway because it is a major trucking route. WE got there and I couldn't have been more pleased. AN old upright Ivers and Pond "Boston" with a bit of hard wear on the keys but lovely action, and a rich full tone that made me want to kiss it on the spot. I gave the owner my hundred dollar bill and Mom and I went to the car excited. I never dreamed it would be so fine. I was practically bouncing up and down in my seat with joy. My mother later referred to that as a rare mood indeed from me. WHile we talked about how lucky we were I it I got back on that horrid highway and that was when I saw the dog.

From a distance I saw a German shepard on the edge of the outside lane laying down, head up. I Told Mom "ohohoh we have do go back!". In a panic i found the next exit which was a long way and turned back searching wishing I had thought to look for a mile marker or a landmark. Just as I thought I had missed her I saw her, and a man standing by her. I took the next exit and circled around. I didnt' want to park Mom on the side so I went up the ramp to a nearby business. parked there and ran as fast as I could back, passing two people that were now watching and a man that was begging for money. I asked the man who was standing about a hundred feet from her if it was his dog. HE said no, he said "that dog is aggressive". He said he had called animal control.

I decided to see for myself. I walked down the bankment, across the ice to the edge of the freeway. The dog baredteeth a bit, but only for a second. I squatted down and told how sorry I was and that i wanted to help. I had my "blankie" with me. It was cold that morning and I sometimes use it when I get in the cold car on my lap to keep me warm. I had grabbed it because IT was all I had to spare in the car. I took the blanket folded it in half lengthwise and wrapped it around the dog's neck, then twisted it a bit, then I told the dog I was going to try and began to pull. Semi's were going by ony a couple feet away and the dog flinched each time. THere was some blood still fresh but only droplets. I pulled the dog about a foot and stopped. I told the dog we got do do this. Please. I pulled the blanket up a bit until the dog's head was covered partially then i reached my hand to the back of the dog's head and gently touched. WHen i still had a hand i knew I could go furter and got my hand on the back of the collar. AS I tried to drag it further the dog tried to get up and we got another 2 feet away from the edge before the collapse. I was desperate by this point so I reached down and got my arm under the front leg and hoisted until we were safely in the grass and snow. I looked up and another man was there. He got an old bed spread out of his jeep and told me if I could get the dog on it he would help me so I heaved one more time and got it accomplished. Neither man was willing to put hands on. THe dog was heavy and there was no way I Could lift alone.

By now I am calling him good boy. The man said he would stay with the dog while i got my car. I go as fast as I can to the parking lot where I left MOm. Got back on the freeway thinking I will take the first exit but it's insane there and i got turned around, and couldnt' find a way back on. I was fighting the dry heaves that hit me when I lift too much and trying to get my breath back. By now I am crying. I was so afraid he would leave and I know there is no way I can lift that dog myself. FInally I got turned around and now a tow truck is added to the crowd. I guess he thought the man's car had broken down. THe man said he thought I wasn't coming back. A woman has shown up, she has many piercings and short black hair. SHe told me if I could get the dog to Eagle ANimal Hospital on Vivion road they will take the dog. THat was just the direction I was going so I thought thank God and tried to drive as careful as I could.

THe dog whimpered some, but was not panting hard or showing shock symptoms so I am hoping the blood is not bladder or other internal. I decided the dog must be either an akita or an akita shepard mix. Breathtakingly beautiful. Mom talked quietly and with encouragement. I stopped at a vet close to her house but the answer was no. Not unless I would cover the bill which I can not. So since I was right by her house and she is in her 80's and i know it has already been too long of a journey for her,I dropped her off and headed for EAgle Animal Hospital.

I tell the dog I am hurrying I promise..I am going to find help, we are going to find help, it's going to be ok,but the answer there was NO too.They did come out and check for a micro chip but there was none, and of course there are no tags.

They said maybe I could try the humane society. Another 20 minutes drive. I put gas in the car and headed that way feeling sick to my stomach. I know the dog is in so much pain yet a muzzle had found it's way between my seat and the door. I reached one arm around and stroked an ear praying we would find help.

I get there and they say prepare yourself ( I am publicly bawling at this point which i hate and being handed tissues), they dont' have room there, they don't have an x ray machine. I said what about the GAbrial fund. My one cause that I am dedicated to. THey know me there because of what Victor did and because of ARt Unleashed. THey said to bring the dog in and they would take a look. A gentle gloriously kind man came out with a gurney and we lifted the dog onto it and wheeled in. Now I know my good boy is a good girl. THe man is stroking her and saying what a good good dog she is. THey took us to the back where they lifted her on the stretcher to the floor to assess the damage. ONe of the main people who's name I should know but i don't is texting.

Doors are opening and shutting, dogs are being led right past her as close as a foot away and she only licked my hand. I could see she wanted to lay her head down and so I went around to the back so the door that kept swinging open wouldn't knock into her and sat down on the floor with her where she was able to lay her head down. I started t-touch and she gave that deep sigh and swallowed a few times leaning her head against me. I realized I had left my purse on the seat of the car with the piano delivery money in it and the doors unlocked. I dont' want to go but I dont' dare not. As i looked back she was watching me with such an instensity. I got back quick and sat back down with her on the floor. I looked up and the lady told me she was working on it, texting away. I went back to the ttouch.

Her fur was so pretty, a buff undercoat with dark ends to the hair, right down the end of her tail which was tipped in black. Lush, and clean, she felt like she had been recently bathed.Finally the answer was yes. I said I would transport her to Welborne Animal hospital. IT was only 10 minutes away. I drove around to the side and talked to her while we waited. I told her I was so sorry and I prayed that they could help her, that it had been an honor to meet such a good brave dog. They brought out gurney and she cried when they picked her up. I wish they would have let me help, she didnt' do that when the man and I moved her. SHe never growled or snapped, or bared her teeth once during any of the moves. At the humane society clinic they had put a muzzle on her, but it was stressing her and once they saw how she was behaving they said I could take it off. I am not sure any of my dogs would react so well. I gave them 29 dollars which was all I had past the delivery money on me towards the cost. Came home and called Mom and told her what had happened. SO now it is late, I am exhausted, and I can't sleep. I keep seeing her face as she looked at me when I was going out to get my purse. I wish I could be with her. I pray they can help her, that the damage isnt' too much. When I had lifted her on the highway she seemed able to bear a little weight on one back leg for few seconds. SHe tried so hard to help. I am praying for her which is all I can do now. I will call in the morning.

(continued)

__________________Go Petie GoGo Who Go!

love comes in many directions with mary

Side by side on the sofa sat three annoyed dogs and one smug catand then in came a little white kitten,

I will get the totem pole finished come hell or high water before the auction this year. It is fuel to the fire to know the money goes for people like this. People who don't say no. I will always support the Gabrial fund with all my heart. She was such a good dog. I know they are all good dogs, but she was so brave. The semi's were so close, it was so cold, and she was obviously in so much pain. Once she smelled my blanket as I wrapped it around her head and neck she trusted me completly. ONe of the women there, i don't know if she was a vet tech or a vet said that she just lost her dog in a car accident. The dog i think she said died.SHe said her dog looked a whole lot like this dog. She thanked me for bringing her in. Maybe if she makes it this woman might be an advocate for her. Someone I believe loved this dog or she wouldn't be like this. Prayers that her owner can be found. Prayers that her hip can be fixed. I am trying to prepare myself that they might not be able to. If that is the case, at least she didn't have to lay there and die like that, or be picked up by animal control.

I spent a long night wondering how you can love a dog so that you only knew for a few hours. I couldn't sleep, just kept hugging my dogs close. I prayed I didn't prolong her agony, I am always fearful of that. I just called Welborn Pet Hospital and asked them if she was able to be saved. They said she had two broken legs an would be going into surgery tomorrow. So praise the heavens above.IT's not her hips, it's not her back, no ruptured bladder,no internal damage. It was the right thing to do and she is going to make it. I wish I had a photo to share. I know I will never forget her beautiful face, her luxurious coat, and her gentle brave soul. If you have a vibe to spare please send her one tomorrow.

I wonder if they would let me come back and visit just once. I would like to tell her how happy I am for her. I Wish I could share the good news with the men that stayed so long and helped with his blanket and the woman that helped lift her into my car. Without their help we never would have made it. I have never had people stop and help like that before.THey should know she is going to be ok.

__________________Go Petie GoGo Who Go!

love comes in many directions with mary

Side by side on the sofa sat three annoyed dogs and one smug catand then in came a little white kitten,

It took a week for the phone to be turned on, they said they were backed up, and even longer for the internet. I figured the powers that be were making sure I would get the unpacking done. Certainly wasn't anything else to do. Sorry to be so wordy. I promise I have that out of my system now. I will update soon as I know anything. It was really a humbling experience to see this dog react to everything the way she did.

I missed you all more than I could ever put into words. (((BIG HUGS)))
THe dogs and SAncho are REALLY happy here. THere is so much more room! They can race from room to room and play finally. STill having trouble with Pepper and the lack of yard space, but the weather will warm up soon and now that I have my net back I can find out where this local off leash park is located. I know it is by the river, and that they have trouble with skunks in the spring. Hope we don't run into skunks! I have never knock on wood had to deal with that. WHen i took the dog I wrote about into the Humane society clinic you could smell skunk in the waiting room. So some dog had gotten a good dose of it and was brought in for some reason.

__________________Go Petie GoGo Who Go!

love comes in many directions with mary

Side by side on the sofa sat three annoyed dogs and one smug catand then in came a little white kitten,

Wow! Just Wow! What an emotional story! You sure went through the ringer with that dog. How lucky she was. You really risked a lot, stopping so close to the freeway like that. But as it turned out, you did a wonderful thing. I'm so glad she's okay. You should definitely go see her. If her owners can't be found, maybe you should keep her. It almost seems like one of those karma things....like something is meant to be...from all that.

How very cool too, that you found such a nice piano at such a good price. That is just wonderful for your little grand daughter to learn. It is so enriching to lean how to play the piano. It's my favorite instrument.

I hope to hear more about this dog. Maybe you could even put one of those announcement things in the paper, to those people who stopped to help you. I'm not sure, but I think they're free or maybe not. But you might be able to let them know. Or maybe on the Internet somehow.

It is sure amazing how many vets won't extend themselves to a few cases like this to help an animal in desperate need when there is no one to pay for it. I realize that they can't operate for free all the time, but good grief! How can an animal lover (you'd think that's why vets become vets anyway) couldn't stand to watch an animal suffer or be wasted over a few injuries that would mostly just cost some extra time and expertise. Kudos to the one that did help.

__________________"If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." -- Samuel Adams 1776

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

Nah I am not. Just at the right spot at the right time is all. I didn't write this so you would think so about me...i just wanted to tell you about her. Wanted to tell it just as it happened. WOre me out tho, I am sure tired today.

I can't have her tho I wish i could!!!!! THat is not even an option. Pepper and SAncho are more than should be here. I think that is a spectacular idea to post it in the paper. I will do just that!

THe piano is for me too. I confess that when i sat down and played after the Big Boy's arrival (that is what the piano movers called it) i was streaming tears. My ex destroyed my piano in our war of the roses break up. HE poured 24 oz of maple syrup across the hammers and by the time I got my things packed and out of there to discover it, it was too late to save. I have waited a long long time, almost 20 years to have my music back. I love this big boy I do. Maybe next year I will get it new keys, but it is perfectly playable now. YOu wouldn't believe how good it sounds. I love a rich full base and the upper octaves are sweet and clear. MOre than i ever could have hoped for. THe outside is in pretty darn good shape too, and it even came with a good tall bench. THe boss lady of Myers music told me she played one just like it right through college. She was a music major.

__________________Go Petie GoGo Who Go!

love comes in many directions with mary

Side by side on the sofa sat three annoyed dogs and one smug catand then in came a little white kitten,